The Rostov region reported by the Russian Ministry of Defense that the airstrike by the Armed Forces of Ukraine was halted before it could reach its targets. In a briefing, the ministry described the incident as the air defenses intercepting and neutralizing threats over Russian soil.
At approximately 15:30 Moscow time on March 25, air defense personnel on duty engaged two S-200 missiles that had been repurposed to strike ground targets. The missiles were intercepted as they crossed into what the ministry characterized as Russian airspace, preventing potential damage to ground facilities or civilian infrastructure in the region.
According to the ministry, Ukrainian forces had directed missiles toward facilities within Russia. Details about the specific objects or facilities were not disclosed, leaving the exact nature of the targets unspecified in the official briefing.
On the same day, the ministry stated that Russian air defense systems shot down 11 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles over the Rostov region, signaling ongoing air traffic and drone activity in the area. The report emphasized that the losses occurred as part of routine measures to safeguard critical infrastructure and regional security in the border zone.
Earlier on the night of March 25, regional authorities reported a fire at a substation belonging to the Novocherkassk State Regional Power Plant (GRES). Authorities indicated no casualties or material damage to people, stressing that the incident was being investigated while power supply to local grids remained stable.
In a broader pattern, Ukrainian efforts to employ drones against Russian targets continued to be detected, though Russian forces maintained the capability to counter these incursions. Reports noted that the use of drones by the Ukrainian side has been a recurrent feature of the conflict, with Russia repeatedly describing attempts to hinder critical infrastructure and regional assets. Observers have highlighted the evolving nature of air defense tactics as both sides adapt to new threats and countermeasures.
In related developments, previously announced Russian defense innovations included the anti-drone system known as Stepashka, introduced by Russian designers as part of ongoing efforts to bolster battlefield resilience against unmanned threats. The Stepashka system, among other counter-drone solutions, reflects a strategic priority to protect remote and sensitive facilities from aerial intrusion while maintaining reliable energy and security service continuity for the population in the affected regions. The deployment and testing of such technology are typically presented as crucial components of multi-layered air defense strategies in the region, especially in areas adjacent to heightened military activity. [Source: Russian Ministry of Defense]